Paraplegic single parent named father of the year

Eveline Fielding

Everton Hills dad Andrew Butwell is many things - mental health nurse, junior rugby league team manager, paraplegic - and as of Wednesday he's also Queensland Father of the Year.

Mr Butwell, who works as a mental health nurse at Toowong Private Hospital as well as assisting in providing homes for people with mental illness as director on the Mantle Housing board, said being a good father was just instinct.

Queensland father of the year for 2014 Andrew Butwell, with son Kieren, mother Anne and father Brad.

"I don't consciously think about what I should and shouldn't do, it's just sort of intuitive." Mr Butwell said.

"Dads are dads and you just do what you do.

"Despite adversity you've got to find a way to work out whatever's going on. We've had issues in our family and we've tried to rally together and thankfully it's all worked out well for the time being."

Hosted by Scripture Union Queensland in partnership with RSL Queensland, the annual award was presented to Mr Butwell on Wednesday by State MP Fiona Simpson at a lunch ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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Part of Mr Butwell's adversity began when Mr Butwell became paraplegic after an assault in November 2006. The Butwell family has also had to cope with their parents' separation, but the dedicated dad still credits his ex-wife and children for helping him endure his physical therapy with flying colours, going back to work two months earlier than expected.

"The biggest motivation for me was obviously my four children and my wife at the time." Mr Butwell said. "She reminded me the other day in a text that the reason I survived was for the kids, and it probably was, but that's just not something I think about I suppose."

Although his three eldest children couldn't attend the award ceremony, Mr Butwell was glad to have his youngest son Kieren, his mother Anne and his father Brad by his side. Brad Butwell, who suffered a stroke several years ago, said his son's perseverance through his disability showed how "worthy" his son was of the award.

"Now that Anne and I have experienced what it's like to be fully disabled, it brings it home how much he's achieved," Mr Butwell Snr said. "He's an example to all disabled people."

When asked if his parents inspired him to contribute to the community and raise his children the way he has, Mr Butwell replied, "no question".

"My old man was a country GP, so he worked long, 12-hour days, but Dad was always there on the weekends with sport and umpiring cricket." Mr Butwell said. "If I'd known about this award for him years ago, I would've nominated him myself because I reckon he deserved it."

Despite his big award, Mr Butwell's Father's Day plans are still focused on his kids.

"I'm taking my son Kieren and the rest of the under 16 footy boys to go-carting for their end-of-season break-up, so it's a father-boys day, so I'm looking forward to that," Mr Butwell said, smiling.

The father of four just hopes his children will follow his lead and make quality time a priority.

"I'd like to think they'll grow up to be good people, that they'll be generous with their time with their own family and kids." he said.

"They've been given a lot as youngsters in the community from not only myself but a lot of other people out there with sports and music and dancing, so it'll be nice to think when they're older that they'll follow in the same sort of footsteps."

The six other finalists for the award were regional winners Greg Johnson, Darren Geissler, Damien Hobson, Murray Pearce, Peter Beasley and Kelly Major.